18th MAY 2026 ENGLISH TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF TNPSC SHOUTERS

18th MAY 2026 ENGLISH TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF TNPSC SHOUTERS

T. Satheesan Sworn In as Kerala Chief Minister

• In the Kerala Legislative Assembly elections, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) swept up 102 seats, emerging as the dominant political force. In Kerala, T. Satheesan has finally been selected as the new Chief Minister. 
• Immediately following his grand swearing-in ceremony at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, during the very first cabinet meeting, he announced several bold welfare schemes including free bus travel for women and salary hikes for employees.
• It has been announced that the facility of free travel for women on government buses across the state will be implemented starting June 15. The demands of ASHA workers who had been staging continuous protests outside the Kerala Secretariat for a long time seeking a salary hike were resolved during this meeting. 
• The government has approved a substantial hike of ₹3,000 in their monthly honorarium. Additionally, the new Chief Minister made a significant announcement stating that the monthly wages of grassroots-level public service workers including Anganwadi workers, school cooks, and primary school teachers would also be increased by ₹1,000.

Bail Provisions and Prison Exceptions Apply to UAPA Cases as Well: Supreme Court Verdict

• Syed Iftikhar Andrabi was arrested in Jammu and Kashmir on charges of involvement in drug trafficking and terror financing, and a case was filed against him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
• A bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan, while hearing a petition filed by him seeking bail, delivered a verdict granting him bail. Furthermore, the Court imposed conditions requiring him to surrender his passport and to appear at the local police station once every 15 days. 
• In its order, a Supreme Court bench stated that indefinite incarceration cannot be justified by citing Section 43D(5) of the UAPA a provision that imposes stringent restrictions on the granting of bail and emphasized that all actions must be undertaken within the framework of Articles 21 and 22 of the Constitution.
• The bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan pointed out that, in the *K.A. Najeeb* case of 2021, a three-judge Supreme Court bench had recognized prolonged delays in trial proceedings and extended pre-trial detention as valid grounds for granting bail, even in cases involving UAPA charges and the associated stringent bail provisions.
• The bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan further observed that they found it difficult to accept the orders issued by a two-judge Supreme Court bench, which had denied bail to Umar Khalid and Gurwinder Singh both of whom were arrested under the UAPA and remain in custody without bail.
• They further asserted that a verdict delivered by a three-judge bench would be binding over a verdict delivered by a two-judge bench.
• In January of this year, the Supreme Court had denied bail to activist Umar Khalid in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case. Subsequently, his review petition was dismissed in April. This latest ruling is expected to offer a glimmer of hope to Khalid, who has been incarcerated since September 2020.

Sweden’s Highest Award for Modi

• Upon Prime Minister Modi's arrival in Sweden yesterday, he was received at the Gothenburg Airport by the country's Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson. During this visit, the 'Royal Order of the Polar Star' Sweden's highest civilian honor was conferred upon the Prime Minister in recognition of his efforts to enhance bilateral relations between India and Sweden, and to commend his visionary leadership. 
• Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden presented this award to Prime Minister Modi. This marks the 31st high-level international award bestowed upon Prime Minister Modi.
• Instituted in 1748, this award represents the highest honor accorded to individuals who have dedicated themselves to serving the interests of Sweden. During the ceremony, the Prime Ministers of both nations exchanged special gifts in commemoration of Rabindranath Tagore, the 1913 Nobel Laureate.

Mr. Saurabh Vijay Assumes Charge as Chief Executive Officer of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)

• Mr. Saurabh Vijay assumed charge as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) today (May 18, 2026). A 1998-batch officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) belonging to the Maharashtra cadre, he holds an engineering degree from IIT Delhi.
• He has previously held various key positions within both the Central Government and the Government of Maharashtra.